EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM THE PAGE North Central Lieutenancy United States VOLUME XXII NO. 1 SPRING, 1999 Adam Cardinal Maida The Memorial-Vigil Mass will be preceded by an orientation meeting with H.E., Thomas J. McCabe, Lieutenant and Guest Speaker INSIDE Monsignor Denis J. Madden, Associate Lieutenant s Message... 2 Secretary General of The Catholic Near East Welfare Association and Vice Pilgrimage Report... 3 President of the Pontifical Mission For Palestine. In Memoriam... 4 ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN TO BE INDUCTED CARDINAL MAIDA TO PRESIDE AT THE SHRINE OF THE LITTLE FLOWER One hundred fifteen men and women who have been approved by their bishop, pastor and the Grand Magisterium in Rome will be inducted in the EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE on Sunday, May 9 th, 1999 at the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan. On Saturday, May 8 th, seventy-five Knights and Ladies will receive promotions in the Order during the Vigil-Memorial Mass at St. Hugo of the Hills Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The Most Reverend Kevin M. Britt, Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit will be the celebrant. Equestrian Questions... 5 The 2000 Pilgrimage... 6 Most Reverend Kevin M. Britt, Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
Lieutenant s Message Mary Jo and I have met with our Grand Prior, His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George to give him a report on the activities of the Lieutenancy for the past year. The Cardinal was very interested in efforts to strengthen spiritual life and how we accomplished it. Further, we discussed that our financial support for the Christians in the Holy Land was an outgrowth of our spiritual commitment. We will have 115 new members and 75 promotions at the Detroit Investiture. The Investiture Ceremony is a centuries old ritual dating back to the early days of the Order. The Section Representatives periodically recommend promotions in rank for Knights and Ladies who have demonstrated through their dedication and temporal support of the works of the Order that they are eligible for higher rank. The North Central Lieutenancy, through the Grand Magisterium in Rome, has sent FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS to His Beatitude, Michel Sabbah, and the Latin Patriarch for each of the past two years and we anticipate we shall send the same again this year. The Lieutenants from the United States have taken on the responsibility to inform our elected and appointed officials of the injustices and inequitable distributions of U.S. aid to the Holy Land. The Palestinians make up approximately one half of the population but receive only a fraction of U.S. aid. Our goal is to bring Justice and Peace to the land of Christ s birth, death and resurrection. Thomas J. McCabe, Lieutenant SPRING 2 1999
The 1998 Pilgrimage By: Thomas and Mary Kathryn Eyerman On Thursday, November 5, 35 pilgrims arrived at the Tel Aviv Airport in Israel to begin the North Central Lieutenancy s 1998 Pilgrimage. The group represented 8 states, including five from our own Lieutenancy. We were fortunate to have five pilgrim priests with us. Once the luggage was collected, it was off to meet Father Silas, our Franciscan Tour Guide, and Abraham, our wonderful bus driver, for the trip from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem where the group stayed for five days. While in Jerusalem among the many Listening to Father Silas lecture in the ruins of the Temple at Capernaum. sights visited were Shepherd s Field, the Basilica and Grotto of the nativity in Bethlehem, the Mount of Olives, the Church of All Nations, the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock and, of course, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Masses were celebrated in many special places at the altar on Calvary in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, at the House of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany and in the Church of St. Catherine in Bethlehem. One of the highlights during the group s stay in Jerusalem was a visit to Bethlehem University, an institution supported by the Order. After a tour and a presentation about the University given by Brother Jerome Sullivan, FSC, the pilgrims enjoyed lunch prepared and served by students in the University s Hospitality Management Program. Members of the student body joined the group for lunch and their comments about life in Bethlehem and Jerusalem were extremely enlightening for everyone. Another highlight was the presentation of the Pilgrim Shell by His Beatitude, Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch and Grand Prior of the Order. Suddenly five days had gone by and it was time for a Farewell Jerusalem Dinner at the Christmas Hotel. The next day it was on to Tiberias with stops along the way in Jericho and at the Jordan River to commemorate the Baptism of Jesus and renew baptismal vows. While in Tiberias, the pilgrims took the Jesus Boat across the Sea of Galilee and went to Renewing Baptismal Vows at the River Jordan. The 1998 Pilgrims following the presentation of Pilgrim Shells by His Beatitude, The Latin Patriarch, Michel Sabbah, Grand Prior of the Order. visit Tabgha, Capernaum and the Mount of the Beatitudes. Mass was celebrated at the Franciscan Church of St. Peter s Primacy. The final full day in Israel included a visit to Nazareth where Mass was celebrated in the Basilica of the Annunciation, and a visit to Mt. Tabor. In the peaceful surroundings of Mt. Tabor, there was time for prayer and reflection before the ride to Tel Aviv and one final evening together. On Friday, November 13, the pilgrims flew back to their various destinations taking with them a much deeper understanding of the Holy Land. After all, they have walked in the footsteps of Jesus. SPRING 3 1999 Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at the altar of Calvary
I N M E M O R I A M With respect and affection, we call the attention of our fellow Knights and Ladies to those members of the North Central Lieutenancy who have died recently. His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George, and His Beatitude, Archbishop Michel Sabbah, will provide for Masses in accordance with the privileges of the Order. MARY ELLEN HAGGERTY: The mother of nine children was the co-founder of Haggerty Enterprises, a highly successful firm that produced novelty items. She was involved with many volunteer and charitable organizations including the Board of St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Sacred Heart Academy in Lake Forest and the President s Council of Marquette University. She was a graduate of St. Mary of the Woods College. Her children described her as a super great role model for how to be a wonderful wife and mother. She is survived by 8 children. 18 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. THERESA H. LUND: Theresa served as an officer in the Army Nurse Corps and was a battlefield nurse with General Patton s Army in the European Theatre and for thirty years served as a RN for the City of Chicago. She did additional study at Loyola and the University of Surrey in England and later in life learned to speak Spanish to better assist patients in her work setting. She was a longtime volunteer for the Chicago Lyric Opera and the Chicago Wildflower Works. A son and several brothers and sisters survive her. A memorial Mass was celebrated in Chicago s Holy Name Cathedral ROBERT W. MARTINEZ: A graduate of Loyola Academy and Loyola University he worked for 45 years in the printing industry retiring in 1987 as vice-president of Gunthrop-Warren Printing in Chicago. He was involved in numerous Catholic philanthropic organizations and a founding member of Willows Academy in Park Ridge and an avid fan and supporter of the Chicago Cubs. He is survived by his wife, Lady Marjorie, a daughter and a son. The funeral was held at Sacred heart Church in Winnetka, IL with 10 knights and ladies attending as an honor guard. JANE A. PECKWAS: Jane was a child care expert who owned and operated a chain of preschools and the Edward A Peckwas Preparatory Academy, a private elementary school. She was past president of the Illinois childcare association and a board member of the National Child Care Association and active in the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America and the Polish Women s Civic Club. She is survived by three daughters and two grandchildren. PERRY J. ST. JOHN: Perry was a lifetime broadcaster in Minneapolis, Des Moines, Norfolk, VA and in LaCrosse, WI were he owned radio and T.V. stations and a cable tower system. He was also a recording artist and musician. Perry was an active member of the Cathedral Men s Organization, the Knights of Columbus, the LaCrosse Police Community Crusade, Kiwanis International and the University of Wisconsin Quarterback Club. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor, three daughters, one son and two grandchildren. He will be inducted posthumously at the Detroit Investiture. The Editor has learned of the deaths of two distinguished members of our Order. William Bentley Ball, a Pennsylvania attorney who championed several precedentsetting Supreme Court cases, especially in the area of state financial aid for students in religious schools and the rights of parents to educate their children as they saw fit. An alumnus of Notre Dame, he was also a Knight Commander of St. Gregory the Great. Doctor Francesco Crucitti, the Italian surgeon credited with saving the life of Pope John Paul II after a 1981 assassination attempt. The Pope, in an unprecedented expression of esteem, paid a call at the Crucitti residence to pray with the doctor s wife and two children. The physician, head of surgery at Rome s Gemelli Hospital also preformed an appendectomy and intestinal surgery of the pontiff. In addition to being a member of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, he was a Knight of St. Gregory the Great. SPRING 4 1999
EQUESTRIAN QUESTIONS The Editor occasionally receives items for the Equestrian Questions feature. Recently, a question was received about the Knights of St. Sylvester and Gentlemen of His Holiness, both referred to in previous newsletter articles. There are two types of Orders of Knighthood that are affiliated with the Holy See. They are the Pontifical Orders of Merit and the Religious Orders of Chivalry. There are five Pontifical Orders of Merit, they are, in order of precedence: (1) The Supreme Order of Christ (2) The Order of the Golden Spur (3) The Order of Pius IX (4) The Order of St. Gregory the Great (5) The Order of Pope St. Sylvester. The first three are limited to monarchs, heads of state, government leaders and diplomats. Except for The Order of Christ, they are not limited to Catholics or Christians and are awarded by The Holy Father, upon the recommendation of diocesan bishops or nuncios. Recipients become members of the papal household but unlike membership in the Ecclesiastical/ Religious Orders, membership does not impose any special mission or obligations. In addition to the orders of knighthood, there are two pontifical medals: the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (for the church and the pontiff) and the Benemerenti Medal (for a well-deserving person). The pontifical honors are the personal gift of the pope to acknowledge an individual s particular meritorious service to the Church. The Order of St. Gregory the Great and the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice appear to be the preferred awards of U. S. bishops who request such things. The Order of Saint Sylvester is seen more often in Europe and is generally awarded to those who have served the church with their specific talents (architecture, the arts, commerce etc.) I am aware of five members of our lieutenancy who have received The Order of St. Gregory the Great and several recipients of the Pro Ecclesia medal. One of our members has the unusual honor to have been awarded both the Order of St. Gregory the Great and the Order of Pope Saint Sylvester. There are only two Religious Orders of Knighthood recognized as such by the Holy See. They are: The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta (SMOM) or simply The Order of Malta. Both were founded in like times for the physical protection and medical care of crusaders and pilgrims to the Holy Land and both are open to clerics and laity. The Order of the Holy Sepulchre is under the protection of the Holy See with the Pope as its head. Its mission is fostering the practice of the Christian life in the modern world and the preservation of the faith in the Holy Land. Several popes have served as Grand Master but in recent years the popes have appointed a Cardinal to serve as Grand Master. The Order of Malta is both a religious order and is also recognized under international law as sovereign entity. It s Grand Master is elected for life from among the ranks of lay celibate knights and his election must be ratified by the pope. He is accorded the titles of Eminence and Prince and has the ceremonial prerogatives of a cardinal. The mission of the order centers on the physical welfare of the sick and disabled and cooperation with other agencies that engage in like work. Approximately 25 members of our Lieutenancy are members of the Order of Malta. There are several other Orders of Chivalry with strong Roman Catholic heritage that engage in a variety of charitable works but the only two recognized by the Holy See are the Orders of Malta and Holy Sepulchre. Prior to 1968 there existed a Papal Court that awarded titles of nobility including prince/countess/ marquis and all sorts of prelates, privy chamberlains, chaplains and guards. The position of GENTLEMAN IN WAITING TO HIS HOLINESS replaced many of the suppressed titles. They can be seen at papal ceremonies, wearing the distinctive gold chain with the papal tiara and crossed keys. Very few live outside Rome and most belong to the Roman noble families. I am aware of two Americans who are Gentlemen of His Holiness; there may be more. They are: Virgil Dechant of Connecticut, the President of the Knights of Columbus, and Daniel J. Donohue of California, the President of the Dan Murphy Foundation. Both are also Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. Virgil Dechant President, Knights of Columbus Excellent references for similar topics are The Catholic Encyclopedia, Our Sunday Visitor Press; The Church Visible, Noonan, Viking Press; and Orders of Knighthood and of Merit, Bander vanduren, Colin Smyth, Ltd. His Eminence Roger Cardinal Mahony and Sir Daniel J. Donohue Sir Daniel is wearing the gold chain which holds the Papal Crest. This privilege is given to Gentlemen in Waiting to His Holiness the Pope. SPRING 5 1999
The Last Pilgrimage of the Millennium The North Central Lieutenancy is offering a 10-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land leaving Tuesday 10 th October and returning Friday 20 th October 1999. There will be five nights in Jerusalem at the Hyatt Regency, three nights in Galilee at the Moriah Plaza Hotel and one night in Tel Aviv. Father Silas, OFM will be our guide in the Holy Land. Price per person/double occupancy is $2,225, which includes airfare on Swissair (economy class), plus all expenses, i.e. hotels, meals, gratuities and donations. The price for land only is $1,490.00. Contact 1-800-566-7499 or call Tom and Mary Kay Eyerman at 1-312-664-1610. There will be limited space on this pilgrimage so please make your reservations early. Deadline for Next Issue: JUNE 30, 1999 Thomas E. McKiernan, KGCHS, Editor: 6114 Cleves-Warsaw Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45233 Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre 2141 Greenwood Wilmette, IL 60091